PKG00249387-instructions.pdf

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

ANNOUNCEMENT FOR:

REENTRY PROJECTS (RP-3)

ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE: Initial

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER: FOA-ETA-19-01

FOA-ETA-19-01-A (serving Adults) FOA-ETA-19-01-YA (serving Young Adults)

CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA) NUMBER: 17.270

KEY DATES: The closing date for receipt of applications under this Announcement is April 25, 2019. We must receive applications no later than 4:00:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

ADDRESSES: Address mailed applications to:

The U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration, Office of Grants Management Attention: Melissa Abdullah, Grant Officer Reference FOA-ETA-19-01 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room N4716 Washington, DC 20210

For complete application and submission information, including online application instructions, please refer to Section IV.

A Prospective Applicant Webcast will be available on March 29, 2019 at https://reo.workforcegps.org/. While a review of this Webcast is strongly encouraged to support successful grant applications, it is not mandatory.

https://reo.workforcegps.org/

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Program Purpose B. Program Authority

II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. Award Type and Amount B. Period of Performance

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligible Applicants B. Cost Sharing or Matching C. Other Information

1. Application Screening Criteria

2. Number of Applications Applicants May Submit

3. Eligible Participants

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. How to Obtain an Application Package B. Content and Form of Application Submission

1. SF-424, “Application for Federal Assistance”

2. Project Budget

3. Project Narrative

4. Attachments to the Project Narrative

C. Submission Date, Time, Process and Address

1. Hardcopy Submission

2. Electronic Submission through Grants.gov

D. Intergovernmental Review E. Funding Restrictions

1. Indirect Costs

2. Salary and Bonus Limitations

3. Intellectual Property Rights

4. Use of Grant Funds for Participant Wages

F. Other Submission Requirements

V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

A. Criteria

1. Statement of Need

2. Reporting Matrix

3. Project Design

4. Partnerships and Related Services

5. Organizational, Administrative, and Fiscal Capacity

6. Past Performance – Programmatic Capability

7. Budget and Budget Justification Priority Consideration: Apprenticeship & Opportunity Zone

B. Review and Selection Process

1. Merit Review and Selection Process

2. Risk Review Process

VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

A. Award Notices B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

1. Administrative Program Requirements

2. Other Legal Requirements

3. Other Administrative Standards and Provisions

4. Special Program Requirements

C. Reporting

1. Quarterly Financial Reports

2. Quarterly Performance Reports

VII. AGENCY CONTACTS

VIII. OTHER INFORMATION

A. Web-Based Resources B. Industry Competency Models and Career Clusters C. WorkforceGPS Resources D. SkillsCommons Resources E. Definitions of Evidence-Based and Evidence-Informed Interventions F. DIRECTIONS FOR USING THE AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY DATA TO IDENTIFY POVERTY LEVEL

OF TARGET AREAS THAT ARE SUB-AREAS OF CITIES OR SUB-AREAS OF NON-METRO COUNTIES

G. DIRECTIONS FOR USING THE AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY DATA TO IDENTIFY POVERTY LEVEL OF INDIAN RESERVATIONS, OKLAHOMA TRIBAL STATISTICAL AREAS, ALASKA NATIVE VILLAGE STATISTICAL

AREAS, AND NATIVE HAWAIIAN HOMELANDS

H. Rentry Resources

IX. OMB INFORMATION COLLECTION

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

The Employment and Training Administration (ETA), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL, the Department, or we), announces the availability of approximately $82.5 million in grant funds authorized by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018, for ex-offender activities under Section 169 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) of 2014.

For this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA or Announcement), the Department intends to award grants to a combination of rural- and urban-serving areas. Eligible applicants must be organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) non-profit status, state or local governments, or any Indian and Native American entity eligible for grants under Section 166 of WIOA. Subject to receiving sufficient applications of fundable quality, DOL intends to award at least 30 percent of the available funds to organizations that have not received a Reentry Employment Opportunity (REO) or Reintegration of Ex-Offender (RExO) grant with a start date of June 2014 or later. ETA will refer to this 30 percent as the new applicant category for funding. See Section III.A. for additional information. All projects must serve high-crime, high-poverty communities. See Section IV.B.4(b) “Poverty and Crime Rates” for definitions of high-poverty and high-crime communities.

WIOA promotes an integrated system of workforce solutions that connect every type of job-seeker with employers in need of skilled workers. Through this FOA, ETA seeks to enhance both adult and young adult reentry strategies through collaboration with the field to identify and respond to emerging or chronic reentry challenges. This initiative intends to assist communities in planning and implementing comprehensive reentry programs to help adults and young adults who have been involved in the juvenile or adult justice system make successful transitions back to the community. One strategy this initiative seeks to test is the improved coordination of post-release and pre-release services, as this strategy has the potential to eliminate the gap between release from prison and enrollment into a reentry program leading to employment. Applicants should consider proposing strategies for better coordinating their service delivery in the post-release environment with the already existing provision of reentry programming to eligible incarcerated individuals prior to their release from state correctional facilities. Taken in total, this initiative intends to protect community safety by ensuring that these justice-involved individuals:

• Become productive, responsible, and law-abiding members of society;

• Receive positive opportunities to engage in pro-social activities, such as employment and/or education;

• Maintain long-term employment;

• Sustain a stable residence; and

• Successfully address their substance abuse issues and mental health needs, as applicable, through partnerships with local programs.

This FOA provides the opportunity for organizations to build customized projects.

Applicants must propose evidence-based and evidence-informed interventions, new interventions that theory or research suggests are promising (i.e. promising practices), or a combination of both that lead to increased employment outcomes for their target populations. More information about promising practices can be found in Section VIII.E. of this FOA.

The Department is especially interested in program models that offer apprenticeship opportunities, including in registered apprenticeship programs and industry-recognized apprenticeship programs, as well as pre-apprenticeship opportunities. Under the June 15, 2017 Presidential Executive Order on Expanding Apprenticeships in America, it is the policy of the Federal Government to provide more affordable pathways to secure high-paying jobs by promoting apprenticeships and effective workforce development programs.

The Department is also interested in program models that better coordinate post-release and pre-release services.

All projects must serve high-crime, high-poverty communities. Applicants whose target areas are not located in high-crime, high-poverty communities will be disqualified and not move forward through the merit review process. See Section IV.B.4 for definitions of high-poverty and high-crime communities.

These projects will serve either young adults between the ages of 18 to 24 who have been involved in the juvenile or adult justice system or are high school dropouts or adults ages 25 or older who were formerly incarcerated in the adult criminal justice system and released from prison or jail within two years of the date of enrollment or are currently under supervision. Applicants may submit up to two (2) applications in response to this FOA, including a maximum of one (1) to serve adults and a maximum of one (1) to serve young adults. Each application may only propose to serve one target population, and applicants may not serve young adults and adults in the same program. Applicants may be selected to receive up to two (2) grant awards. In addition, eligible applicants must choose to apply as either an intermediary organization (for the purpose of this Announcement, intermediary organizations are defined as organizations that have an affiliate network or offices in at least three communities and across at least two states) or as a non-intermediary organization (for the purpose of this Announcement, non-intermediary organizations are those with single sites or multiple sites within one state).

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

The Department will competitively select applicants that have proposed service delivery approaches consisting of evidence-based and evidence-informed interventions previously shown to achieve successful employment outcomes for justice-involved individuals, new interventions that theory or research suggests are promising, or a combination of both.

Models must provide solutions to improving workforce outcomes for justice-involved individuals located in high-crime, high-poverty communities. Applicants must have a clear framework for delivering services and accomplishing performance goals and measures identified by DOL.

Applicants must provide a detailed description of the need for services in their target communities; how they plan to accomplish outcomes; their project design; their organizational, administrative, and fiscal capacity; and their past performance and programmatic capability. Applicants identified as intermediary organizations must show that their proposed sub-grantees’ target areas are in areas of high-crime and high-poverty and describe how the sub-grantees will implement the applicant’s program design.

A. PROGRAM PURPOSE

This Announcement solicits applications for Reentry Projects. The purpose of this program is to use evidence-based and evidence-informed interventions, new interventions that theory or research suggests are promising, or a combination of both to improve employment outcomes of adults and young adults. Adults served under this grant are ages 25 and older who were formerly incarcerated in the adult criminal justice system and released within two years of the date of enrollment or are currently under supervision, and young adults served under this grant are between the ages of 18 to 24 who have been involved in the juvenile or adult justice system or are high school dropouts. Grants for adults and young adults must provide services in high-crime, high-poverty communities. Applicants must have a clear framework for delivering services and accomplishing performance goals and measures identified by DOL.

B. PROGRAM AUTHORITY

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), Section 169, Public Law 113-128, codified at 29 U.S.C. 3224, and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018, authorize this program.

II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. AWARD TYPE AND AMOUNT

Funding will be provided in the form of a grant.

We expect availability of approximately $82.5 million to fund approximately forty-one (41) grants. ETA will award approximately seven (7) grants of up to $4,500,000 each to intermediary organizations; of the grants awarded to intermediary organizations, one (1) will serve adults and approximately six (6) will serve young adults. ETA will award at least $25 million to intermediaries serving young adults, including high school dropouts. In addition, we will award approximately thirty-four (34) grants of up to $1,500,000 each to non-intermediary organizations; of the grants awarded to non-intermediary organizations, approximately twenty (20) will serve adults and approximately fourteen (14) will serve young adults.

Applicants may submit up to two (2) applications in response to this FOA: a maximum of one (1) to serve adults and a maximum of one (1) to serve young adults. Each application may only propose to serve one (1) target population, and applicants may not serve young adults and adults in the same program.

Applications that propose serving both young adults and adults in the same program will be disqualified and not move forward in the merit review process.

Applicants may be selected to receive up to two (2) grant awards.

Applicants applying as intermediary organizations may apply for a ceiling amount of up to $4,500,000 per application; applicants applying as non-intermediary organizations may apply for a ceiling amount of up to $1,500,000 per application.

Intermediary applicants proposing a ceiling amount of over $4,500,000 or non-intermediary applicants proposing a ceiling amount of over $1,500,000 will be disqualified and not reviewed or moved forward in the merit review process.

Awards made under this Announcement are subject to the availability of Federal funds. In the event that additional funds become available, we reserve the right to use such funds to select additional grantees from applications submitted in response to this Announcement. Subject to receiving sufficient applications of fundable quality, DOL intends to award at least 30 percent of grant funds to new applicants and no more than 70 percent of grant funds to previously awarded organizations that have received REO grants in the past five years.

Organizations that have received grants under any of the following Funding Opportunity Numbers are considered previously-funded grantees and will not be considered under the new applicant category for funding.

o FOA-ETA-18-02 o FOA-ETA-17-02 o FOA-ETA-16-09 o FOA-ETA-16-06 o FOA-ETA-16-03 o FOA-ETA-15-07-A o FOA-ETA-15-07 o FOA-ETA-15-04 o FOA-ETA-15-03 o FOA-ETA-15-01 o SGA/DFA PY-13-03 o SGA/DFA PY-13-09

DOL intends to award grants to a combination of rural- and urban-serving organizations. For this grant announcement, a rural area is defined as being located in a non-metropolitan county or counties. To determine whether your proposed service area is in a non-metropolitan county, go to https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/maps/statecbsa.html.

Under the first option, “February 2013,” select a map of your state. Counties shown in either white or light green (micropolitan areas) are considered non-metropolitan counties under this grant announcement, while counties in dark green count as metropolitan areas. All projects’ target areas must be located in high-crime, high-poverty communities, further described in Section IV.B.4(b).

Applicants must not propose to exceed an $8,000 cost-per-participant (CPP), which includes administrative, planning, and follow-up costs. Applications that exceed $8,000 CPP will be disqualified and not be reviewed or move forward in the merit review process. The CPP calculation divides the total amount of funding the applicant is requesting to serve an adult or young adult population by the number of proposed participants. Grantees must serve at least the number of participants proposed in their application. Intermediary organizations submitting applications requesting the maximum $4,500,000 must ensure that their sub-grantees cumulatively serve at least 563 participants over 39 months; non-intermediary organizations submitting applications requesting the maximum $1,500,000 must serve at least 188 participants over 39 months. Applicants applying as intermediary organizations must select and identify in their application their intended sub-grantees. DOL does not require applicants to competitively select local sub-grantees. Applicants may, but are not required to, select their local offices, affiliates, or members to serve as one or more sub-grantees.

B. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

These grants have a 39-month period of performance, which includes up to three months of planning, a required 24-month period of operation, and a required 12-month period for follow-up services. Grantees must meet their enrollment goal and ensure that each participant receives the full menu of services within the period of operation and be able to ensure that each participant receives the 12 months of follow-up services during the performance period of the grant. A minimum of five percent of total funds must be reserved for the 12-month follow-up period. The anticipated start date for these projects is July 1, 2019.

To ensure that grantees are prepared to begin program implementation, the Federal Project Officer (FPO) will review the completion of specific preliminary steps within the identified planning period of the grant. Grantees must complete these key preliminary steps during the planning period: hiring key staff (Director, Fiscal Manager, and Case Manager), securing locations to house the program, finalizing https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/maps/statecbsa.html sub-grant agreements, meeting with any additional partners identified in the application to solidify partnerships, and ensuring readiness for inputting data into the DOL Workforce Integrated Performance System (WIPS) and any DOL provided Case Management or Access Database system (if deemed applicable by DOL). The Department may subject grantees that do not meet these preliminary steps to corrective action. The application to the FOA serves as the Statement of Work for the grant.

III. ELIGIBILITY INFOR MATION

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

All applicants must comply with the eligibility requirements below:

• All eligible applicants must be organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) non-profit status, including women’s and minority organizations; state or local governments; or any Indian and Native American entity eligible for grants under Section 166 of (WIOA).

• Entities eligible for WIOA Section 166 grants include: Federally-recognized

Indian tribes; Tribal organizations as defined in 25 U.S.C. 450b; Alaska Native-controlled organizations; Native Hawaiian-controlled organizations;

Indian-controlled organizations serving Indian and Native Americans (INA);

a consortium of eligible entities that meet the legal requirements for a consortium as defined at 20 CFR 684.200(e); and State-recognized tribal organizations as defined in 20 CFR 684.200(g).

• Eligible applicants may be rural- or urban-serving organizations. For the purposes of this FOA, a rural area is an area within a non-metropolitan county as described above in Section II.A.

The Department requests applicants applying with IRS 501(c)(3) non-profit status submit verification of the non-profit status. If you have submitted this documentation previously in another application submission, please submit it again for this application. For applicants applying with IRS 501(c)(3) non-profit status that do not submit documentation of this status, the Department will check IRS data to ensure the applicant has this status.

The Department requests that applicants indicate if they are applying as either an intermediary organization (for the purpose of this Announcement, intermediary organizations are defined as organizations that have an affiliate network or offices in at least three communities and across at least two states) or as a non-intermediary organization (for the purpose of the Announcement, non-intermediary organizations are those with single sites or multiple sites within one state) in their application.

Applicants must identify their target population in their application. Applicants may propose to serve either adults (ages 25 or older who have been incarcerated in the adult criminal justice system and released from prison or jail within two years of enrollment or are currently under supervision) or young adults (ages 18-24 who have been involved in the juvenile or adult justice system or are high school dropouts) but may not serve both with the same application. The Department requests that applicants indicate which target population they intend to serve by using the Funding Opportunity Numbers below:

If applying to serve the adult population, submit applications under FOA-ETA-19- 01-A.

If applying to serve the young adult population, submit applications under FOA-

ETA-19-01-YA.

Applicants may submit up to two (2) applications in response to this FOA, including a maximum of one (1) to serve adults and one (1) to serve young adults. Applicants may not propose to serve young adults and adults in the same application.

Applications that do not identify a target population or that propose to serve both young adults and adults will be disqualified and not reviewed or moved forward in the merit review process.

Eligible applicants include current or former DOL grantees. New applicants that have not received previous DOL grants are also encouraged to apply.

All projects’ target areas must be located in high-crime, high-poverty communities;

applicants must show this using the instructions in section IV.B.4(b). Sample tables showing high-crime, high-poverty status are in Section IV below. Applicants proposing target areas that are not in high-crime, high-poverty communities will be disqualified and not move forward through the merit review process.

Furthermore, applicants will receive priority consideration of two (2) bonus points if the applicant (if applying as a non-intermediary organization) or at least one sub-grantee (if applying as an intermediary organization) has at least one-census tract in their target area designated by the Secretary of Treasury as a qualified opportunity zone; applicants will not receive additional bonus points for more than one opportunity zone sub-grantee. For more information on opportunity zones, go to:

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/opportunity-zones-frequently-asked-questions.

B. COST SHARING OR MATCHING

This program does not require cost sharing or matching funds. Including such funds is not one of the application screening criteria and applications that include any form of cost sharing or match will not receive additional consideration during the review process. Instead, the agency considers any resources contributed to the project beyond the funds provided by the agency as leveraged resources. Section IV.B.2 provides more information on leveraged resources.

https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.irs.gov%2Fnewsroom%2Fopportunity-zones-frequently-asked-questions&data=02%7C01%7CAbdullah.Melissa%40dol.gov%7C30e99a857a274957aed308d6980d97b1%7C75a6305472044e0c9126adab971d4aca%7C0%7C0%7C636863581477143224&sdata=hoB%2BTrYFd4OgNelkc0xt5sdjtnybflHRmOb554w7KN4%3D&reserved=0

C. OTHER INFORMATION

1. Application Screening Criteria You should use the checklist below as a guide when preparing your application package to ensure that the application has met all of the screening criteria. Note that this checklist is only an aid for applicants and should not be included in the application package. We urge you to use this checklist to ensure that your application contains all required items. If your application does not meet all of the screening criteria, it will not move forward through the merit review process.

Application Requirement Instructions Complete?

The deadline submission requirements are met. Section IV.C

Application is from an eligible organization. Section III.A

If submitted through Grants.gov, the components of the application are saved in any of the specified formats and are not corrupt.

(We will attempt to open the document, but will not take any additional measures in the event of problems with opening.)

Section IV.C.2

Application’s Federal funds request does not exceed the ceiling amount of $4,500,000 for intermediary organizations or $1,500,000 for non-intermediaries.

Section II.A

Application does not exceed the $8,000 cost-per-participant (CPP) rate. Section II.A

Application identifies the target population and does not propose to serve both young adults and adults. (Applications that do not identify a target population or that propose serving both adults and young adults will be disqualified and not move forward in the merit review process.)

Section III.A

Applicant has completed SAM Registration. Section IV.B.1 Application includes SF-424, Application for

Federal Assistance Section IV.B.1

SF-424 includes a DUNS Number Section IV.B.1 Application includes SF-424A, Budget

Information Form Section IV.B.2

Application includes Budget Narrative Section IV.B.2 Application includes Project Narrative Section IV.B.3

Application Requirement Instructions Complete?

Poverty, Crime Rates and Map attachments for all applicants that includes the target area of each community to be served and show that each of these communities are located in high poverty and high crime areas:

• High Poverty Table using data from Census Bureau website showing that each target area has a poverty rate of at least 25% (applicants using zip-codes will be disqualified) per the instructions in Section IV.B.4; and

• Crime Rate Table demonstrating that the service area is high crime per instructions in Section IV.B.4.

• A map showing that the target area is contiguous.

Section IV.B.4(b)

2. Number of Applications Applicants May Submit

We will consider up to two (2) applications from each organization, including one

(1) for each target population, identified in the Funding Opportunity Numbers below. In each application, the Department requests that applicants select to be identified as either an intermediary organization or a non-intermediary organization. If we receive multiple applications from the same organization for a single Funding Opportunity Number, we will only consider the most recently received application that met the deadline, regardless of the target population identified in the application. The earlier submission(s) will not be reviewed. If the most recent application is disqualified for any reason, we will not replace it with an earlier application. Any application proposing to serve both target populations in the same application will be disqualified and will not move forward in the merit review process. As stated above, we will only accept one application from each organization for each opportunity number. In the event an applicant submits an application under the wrong opportunity number and that application is not otherwise disqualified, such as for the submission of multiple applications under a single Funding Opportunity Number, the Department will place that application in the correct adult or young adult category.

Applicants applying to serve the Adult population apply under Funding Opportunity Number: FOA-ETA-19-01-A

Applicants applying to serve the Young Adult population apply under Funding Opportunity Number: FOA-ETA-19-01-YA

3. Eligible Participants

a) Participants Eligible to Receive Training

(1) Young Adults An individual is eligible to participate in a program funded through this FOA if that individual, on the date of enrollment (the date of enrollment is when the individual has gone through the application process, been accepted, and received confirmation that they will participate in the program):

o is at least 18 years and not older than 24 years of age;

o is a high school dropout* or currently involved or has been involved with the juvenile or adult justice system, which includes:

• currently or previously incarcerated;

• under the supervision of the justice system, either in out-of-home placements, on probation, or on parole;

• under an alternative sentence by the justice system; or

• under a diversion program as an alternative to prosecution; and o must reside in or is returning to the target area.

*Not more than 10 percent of participants may be enrolled as high school dropouts without having involvement in the juvenile or adult justice system.

(2) Adults

An individual is eligible to participate in a program funded through this FOA if that individual, on the date of enrollment:

o is 25 years of age or older;

o must reside in or is returning to the target area; and o is one of the following:

• was previously incarcerated and released from prison or jail within two years of enrollment, or

• is currently under supervision (which includes individuals:

confined in a correctional facility with a release date within six months, residing in a residential reentry center, on electronic monitoring or home-based monitoring, or enrolled in a jail-based work release center).

Grantees have the discretion to enroll individuals convicted of violent offenses or sexual offenses and those assessed as high-risk of either offense. Grantees that choose to serve these populations must conduct a rigorous risk assessment of each participant assessing criminogenic need, (i.e., causing or likely to cause criminal behavior). Applicants proposing to serve these populations may adjust their outcomes accordingly;

enrollment goals based on cost-per-participant may not be reduced. In all cases, grantees must have clear and consistent written enrollment policies that address program enrollment. Grantees must submit their written enrollment policies as a condition of award. More information on risk assessments can be found at:

http://csgjusticecenter.org/reentry/the-reentry-and-employment-project/, as well as in Section VIII, Part H of this FOA.

NOTE: Male participants are required to register for the selective service before participating in services. Grantees should determine eligibility of male participants by accessing the Selective Service System at https://www.sss.gov/. For additional guidance, including how this requirement applies to male participants incarcerated at the time of their 18th birthdays, please see Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) 11-11. Change 2 clarifies the implementation of the Selective Service registration requirements of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998 § 189(h) for grantees funded or authorized by Title I of WIA, located at: http://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/attach/TEGL/TEGL_11- 11_change2.pdf. This guidance applies to grants funded or authorized by

WIOA.

b) Veterans’ Priority for Participants 38 U.S.C. 4215 requires grantees to provide priority of service to veterans and spouses of certain veterans for the receipt of employment, training, and placement services in any job training program directly funded, in whole or in part, by DOL. The regulations implementing this priority of service are at 20 CFR Part 1010. In circumstances where a grant recipient must choose between two qualified candidates for a service, one of whom is a veteran or eligible spouse, the veterans’ priority of service provisions require that the grant recipient give the veteran or eligible spouse priority of service by first providing him or her that service. To obtain priority of service, a veteran or spouse must meet the program’s eligibility requirements. Grantees must comply with DOL guidance on veterans’ priority. ETA’s Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) No. 10- 09 (issued November 10, 2009) provides guidance on implementing priority of service for veterans and eligible spouses in all qualified job training programs funded in whole or in part by DOL. TEGL No. 10-09 is available at https://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=2816.

This guidance applies to programs funded under WIOA. For additional information on veteran’s priority of service and WIOA, please see TEGL 19-

16. TEGL 19-16 is available at https://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=3851 http://csgjusticecenter.org/reentry/the-reentry-and-employment-project/ http://csgjusticecenter.org/reentry/the-reentry-and-employment-project/ https://www.sss.gov/ http://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/attach/TEGL/TEGL_11-11_change2.pdf http://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/attach/TEGL/TEGL_11-11_change2.pdf http://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=2816 https://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=3851

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. HOW TO OBTAIN AN APPLICATION PACKAGE

This FOA, found at www.Grants.gov and https://www.doleta.gov/grants/find_grants.cfm, contains all of the information and links to forms needed to apply for grant funding.

NOTE: If applying to serve the adult population, use Funding Opportunity Number FOA-ETA-19-01-A on Grants.gov. If applying to serve the young adult population, use Funding Opportunity Number FOA-ETA-19-01-YA on Grants.gov.

B. CONTENT AND FORM OF APPLICATION SUBMISSION

Applications submitted in response to this FOA must consist of four separate and distinct parts:

1. the SF-424 “Application for Federal Assistance;”

2. Project Budget, composed of the SF-424A and Budget Narrative;

3. Project Narrative; and

4. Attachments to the Project Narrative.

You must ensure that the funding amount requested is consistent across all parts and sub-parts of the application.

1. SF-424, “Application for Federal Assistance”

• You must complete the SF-424, “Application for Federal Assistance”

(available at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1.

• In the address field, fill out the nine-digit (plus hyphen) zip code. Nine-digit zip codes can be looked up on the USPS website at https://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupAction!input.action.

• The SF-424 must clearly identify the applicant and must be signed by an individual with authority to enter into a grant agreement. Upon confirmation of an award, the individual signing the SF-424 on behalf of the applicant is considered the Authorized Representative of the applicant. As stated in block 21 of the SF-424 form, the signature of the Authorized Representative on the SF-424 certifies that the organization is in compliance with the Assurances and Certifications form SF-424B (available at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1). You do not need to submit the SF-424B with the application.

http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.doleta.gov/grants/find_grants.cfm https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1 https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1 https://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupAction!input.action https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1

In addition, the applicant’s Authorized Representative’s signature in block 21 of the SF-424 form constitutes assurance by the applicant of compliance with the following requirements in accordance with 29 CFR 38.25.

As a condition to the award of financial assistance from the Department of Labor under Title I WIOA, the grant applicant assures that it will comply fully with the nondiscrimination and equal opportunity provisions of the following laws, including: Section 188 of the WIOA, which, as interpreted through Departmental regulations, prohibits discrimination against all individuals in the United States on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, transgender status, and gender identity), national origin (including limited English proficiency), age, disability, political affiliation or belief, and against beneficiaries on the basis of either citizenship status or participation in any WIOA Title I—financially assisted program or activity; Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, which prohibits discrimination on the bases of race, color and national origin; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, which prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities; The Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of age; and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, as amended, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in educational programs. The grant applicant also assures that as a recipient of WIOA Title I financial assistance (as defined at 29 CFR 38.4(zz)), it will comply with 29 CFR part 38 and all other regulations implementing the laws listed above.

This assurance applies to the grant applicant's operation of the WIOA Title I-financially assisted program or activity, and to all agreements the grant applicant makes to carry out the WIOA Title I-financially assisted program or activity. The grant applicant understands that the United States has the right to seek judicial enforcement of this assurance.

Requirement for DUNS Number All applicants for Federal grant and funding opportunities must have a DUNS number, and must supply their DUNS Number on the SF-424. The DUNS Number is a nine-digit identification number that uniquely identifies business entities. If you do not have a DUNS Number, you can get one for free through the D&B website: https://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/displayHomePage.do.

Grant recipients authorized to make subawards must meet these requirements related to DUNS Numbers:

• Grant recipients must notify potential subawardees that no entity may receive a subaward from you unless the entity has provided its DUNS number to you.

• Grant recipients may not make a subaward to an entity unless the entity has provided its DUNS number to you.

(See, Appendix A to 2 CFR section 25.)

Requirement for Registration with SAM https://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/displayHomePage.do

Applicants must register with the System for Award Management (SAM) before submitting an application. Find instructions for registering with SAM at:

https://www.sam.gov.

A recipient must maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or an application under consideration. To remain registered in the SAM database after the initial registration, the applicant is required to review and update the registration at least every 12 months from the date of initial registration or subsequently update its information in the SAM database to ensure it is current, accurate, and complete. For purposes of this paragraph, the applicant is the entity that meets the eligibility criteria and has the legal authority to apply and to receive the award. If an applicant has not fully complied with these requirements by the time the Grant Officer is ready to make a Federal award, the Grant Officer may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a Federal award and use that determination as a basis for making a Federal award to another applicant.

2. Project Budget You must complete the SF-424A Budget Information Form (available at:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1). In preparing the Budget Information Form, you must provide a concise narrative explanation to support the budget request, explained in detail below.

Budget Narrative: The Budget Narrative must provide a description of costs associated with each line item on the SF-424A. The Budget Narrative should also include a section describing any leveraged resources provided (as applicable) to support grant activities. Leveraged resources are all resources, both cash and in-kind, in excess of this award. Valuation of leveraged resources follows the same requirements as match. Applicants are encouraged to leverage resources to increase stakeholder investment in the project and broaden the impact of the project itself.

The Budget Narrative must demonstrate that the cost-per-participant is at or under $8,000. Up to five percent (5%) of grant funds may be used to provide emergency assistance for housing, substance abuse treatment, and mental health treatment for participants. Additionally, up to 1.5% of grant funds may be used for needs-related payments. Each category should include the total cost for the period of performance. Use the following guidance for preparing the Budget Narrative.

Personnel: List all staff positions by title (both current and proposed) including the roles and responsibilities. For each position give the annual salary, the percentage of time devoted to the project, and the amount of each position’s salary funded by the grant.

https://www.sam.gov/

Fringe Benefits: Provide a breakdown of the amounts and percentages that comprise fringe benefit costs such as health insurance, FICA, retirement, etc.

Travel: For grantee staff only, specify the purpose, number of staff traveling, mileage, per diem, estimated number of in-state and out-of-state trips, and other costs for each type of travel.

Equipment: Identify each item of equipment you expect to purchase which has an estimated acquisition cost of $5,000 or more per unit (or if your capitalization level is less than $5,000, use your capitalization level) and a useful lifetime of more than one year (see 2 CFR 200.33 for the definition of Equipment). List the item, quantity, and the unit cost per item.

Items with a unit cost of less than $5,000 are supplies, not “equipment”. In general, we do not permit the purchase of equipment during the last funded year of the grant.

Supplies: Identify categories of supplies (e.g. office supplies) in the detailed budget and list the item, quantity, and the unit cost per item. Supplies include all tangible personal property other than “equipment” (see 2 CFR 200.94 for the definition of Supplies).

Contractual: Under the Contractual line item, delineate contracts and subawards separately. Contracts are defined according to 2 CFR 200.22 as a legal instrument by which a non-Federal entity purchases property or services needed to carry out the project or program under a Federal award. A subaward, defined by 2 CFR 200.92, means an award provided by a pass-through entity to a subrecipient for the subrecipient to carry out part of a Federal award received by the pass-through entity. It does not include payments to a contractor or payments to an individual that is a beneficiary of a Federal program.

For each proposed contract and subaward, specify the purpose and activities to be provided, and the estimated cost.

Construction: Construction costs are not allowed and this line must be left as zero. Minor alterations to adjust an existing space for grant activities (such as a classroom alteration) may be allowable. We do not consider this as construction and you must show the costs on other appropriate lines such as Contractual.

Other: Provide clear and specific detail, including costs, for each item so that we are able to determine whether the costs are necessary, reasonable and allocable.

List any item, such as stipends or incentives, not covered elsewhere here.

Indirect Costs: If you include an amount for indirect costs (through a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement or De Minimis) on the SF-424A budget form, then include one of the following:

a) If you have a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA), provide an explanation of how the indirect costs are calculated. This explanation should include which portion of each line item, along with the associated costs, are included in your cost allocation base. Also, provide a current version of the

NICRA.

or

b) If you intend to claim indirect costs using the 10 percent de minimis rate, please confirm that your organization meets the requirements as described in 2 CFR 200.414(f). Clearly state that your organization has never received a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA), and your organization is not one described in Appendix VII of 2 CFR 200, paragraph (D)(1)(b).

Applicants choosing to claim indirect costs using the de minimis rate must use Modified Total Direct Costs (see 2 CFR 200.68 below for definition) as their cost allocation base. Provide an explanation of which portion of each line item, along with the associated costs, are included in your cost allocation base. Note that there are various items not included in the calculation of Modified Total Direct Costs. See below the definitions to assist you in your calculation.

2 CFR 200.68 Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC) means all direct salaries and wages, applicable fringe benefits, materials and supplies, services, travel, and up to the first $25,000 of each subaward (regardless of the period of performance of the subawards under the award). MTDC excludes equipment, capital expenditures, charges for patient care, rental costs, tuition remission, scholarships and fellowships, participant support costs and the portion of each subaward in excess of $25,000. Other items may only be excluded when necessary to avoid a serious inequity in the distribution of indirect costs, and with the approval of the cognizant agency for indirect costs.

The definition of MTDC in 2 CFR 200.68 no longer allows for any sub-contracts to be included in the calculation. You will also note that participant support costs are not included in modified total direct cost. Participant support costs are defined below.

2 CFR 200.75 Participant Support Cost means direct costs for items such as stipends or subsistence allowances, travel allowances, and registration fees paid to or on behalf of participants or trainees (but not employees) in connection with conferences, or training projects.

See Section IV.B.4. and Section IV.E.1 for more information. Additionally, the following link contains information regarding the negotiation of Indirect Cost Rates at DOL: https://www.dol.gov/oasam/boc/dcd/index.htm.

Note that the SF-424, SF-424A, and Budget Narrative must include the entire Federal grant amount requested (not just one year).

http://www.dol.gov/oasam/boc/dcd/index.htm

Do not show leveraged resources on the SF-424 and SF-424A. You should describe leveraged resources in the Budget Narrative.

Applicants should list the same requested Federal grant amount on the SF-424, SF-424A, and Budget Narrative. If minor inconsistencies are found between the budget amounts specified on the SF-424, SF-424A, and the Budget Narrative, ETA will consider the SF-424 the official funding amount requested. However, if the amount specified on the SF-424 would render the application nonresponsive, the Grant Officer will use his or her discretion to determine whether the intended funding request (and match if applicable) is within the responsive range.

3. Project Narrative A. Preparing the Project Narrative

The Project Narrative must demonstrate your capability to implement the grant project in accordance with the provisions of this Announcement. It provides a comprehensive framework and description of all aspects of the proposed project. It must be succinct, self-explanatory, and well organized so that reviewers can understand the proposed project.

The Project Narrative is limited to 25 pages for intermediary organizations and 20 pages for non-intermediary organizations. All pages must be double-spaced single-sided 8.5 x 11 inch pages with Times New Roman 12 point text font and 1 inch margins. You must number the Project Narrative beginning with page number 1.

We will not read or consider any materials beyond the specified page limit in the application review process.

The following instructions provide all of the information needed to complete the Project Narrative. Carefully read and consider each section, and include all required information in your Project Narrative. The agency will evaluate the Project Narrative using the evaluation criteria identified in Section V.A. You must use the same section headers identified below for each section of the Project Narrative:

(1) Statement of Need Describe in both quantitative and qualitative terms the need for assistance, including the nature and scope of the problem and the consequences of not addressing the need. Incorporate demographic data and participant/beneficiary information whenever possible.

Applicants must indicate the following:

Participants Served: Identify the category of participant (young adult or adult).

If applying as a non-intermediary organization, identify the number of participants that the applicant will serve. If applying as an intermediary organization, indicate the number of participants that each sub-grantee will serve, as well as the total cumulative number of participants to be served by all sub-grantees combined.

All applicants must demonstrate that there is a sufficient pool of eligible potential participants in the target area(s) to recruit into the program.

All applicants must provide evidence to support the number of proposed participants in each of the areas to be served.

Selected Skills Training Programs: Describe the need for the selected training programs in the area(s) to be served and identify the source of this information, such as Workforce Development Boards (WDBs), business/industry groups, or labor market projections.

(2) Reporting Matrix

The Department expects REO grantees to track and report the primary indicators of performance as listed in WIOA section 116(b)(2)(A)(i-ii), as well as REO-specific measures. As part of their data collection, all REO grantees are directed to request participants’ social security numbers (SSNs). However, while REO grantees are required to request participants’ SSNs, participants cannot be denied services if they choose not to disclose.

REO grantees will report on the six WIOA primary indicators of performance.

These indicators are:

1) Employment Rate – Second Quarter After Exit (projects serving adults) 1a) Education and Employment Rate – Second Quarter After Exit (projects serving young adults)

2) Employment Rate – Fourth Quarter After Exit (projects serving adults) 2a) Education and Employment Rate – Fourth Quarter After Exit (projects serving young adults)

3) Median Earnings – Second Quarter After Exit

4) Credential Attainment – Credential attainment is both a WIOA primary indicator and a REO-specific goal. The Department is currently setting the goal for this measure at 60 percent. The description of the goal is stated below in the REO-specific goals.

5) Measurable Skill Gains

6) Effectiveness in Serving Employers

Additional information on these performance indicators can be found in Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) 10-16, Change 1:

“Performance Accountability Guidance for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title I, Title II, Title III and Title IV Core Programs,” found at:…